A sound shockingly akin to the growl of a beast echoed in his throat. Then, gradually, he relaxed. The man Delgaun he would have challenged. But to do so would wreck the mission that he had promised to carry out here for Ashton.
He shrugged, and joined the others at the table.
Walsh of Terra rose abruptly and began to prowl back and forth.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" he demanded.
Delgaun poured wine into a bronze goblet. "Don't expect me to know," he snapped. He shoved the flagon along the table toward Stark.
Stark helped himself. The wine was warm and sweet on his tongue. He drank slowly, sitting relaxed and patient while the others smoked nervously or rose to pace up and down.
Stark wondered what, or who, they were waiting for. But he did not ask.
Time went by.
Stark raised his head, listening. "What's that?"
Their duller ears had heard nothing, but Delgaun rose and flung open the shutters of the window near him.